FSU Running Back James Wilder Released on Bond

Florida State University running back James Wilder missed a court date on December 20th.

The judge issued a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court to face charges of driving with a suspended license.

Court records show Wilder turned himself in at 11:14pm Sunday night. He posted a $500 bond and was released at 11:50 pm the same night.

FSU has not released a statement yet.

Late this afternoon, Wilder tweeted "just to clear it up i didnt kno bout a courtdate it wasnt never mailed to my criib"

Updated 6.28.2012 by Julie Montanaro

FSU football player James Wilder admitted to violating his probation and was sentenced to 11 days in jail. He has already spent eight days behind bars so he'll be released on June 30th.

Wilder was accused of showing up at the sheriffs work camp with alcohol in his system.

Wilder's attorney, Tim Jansen, disputes that, but says it would have taken too long to schedule a VOP hearing.

UPDATED 6.22.2012 by Julie Montanaro

FSU football player James Wilder is back in jail tonight. He is accused of violating the terms of his probation.

Wilder is being held without bond. His first appearance is set for Saturday morning.

UPDATED 4.4.2012 by Julie Montanaro

Ours were the only cameras rolling when James Wilder raised his right hand in court.

The judge signed off on a plea deal that reduced two felonies to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

"Anytime you interfere with an officer, we can't let society do that. He recognizes it's a mistake. Nine days on the jail work camp? He's going to realize that, so hopefully it will never happen again," defense attorney Tim Jansen said afterward.

It all stemmed from an altercation at Wilder's apartment in February. A deputy came to arrest his girlfriend and says Wilder tried to stop him. The deputy ultimately pulled his taser and wound up arresting Wilder too.

Wilder will do nine days on the sheriff's work camp. He'll also spend six months on probation. He has to attend anger management class, write a letter of apology to the deputy and stay away from his girlfriend.

Reducing those felonies to a misdemeanor means the highly recruited running back is now eligible to play football again.

"He's excited to get back on the field. He's still been a student. He hasn't had any suspensions at school, but he's now eligible to play," Jansen said.

We tried to ask Wilder some questions, but he says team rules forbid him from talking to us without the coach's permission.

Word of the plea deal traveled quickly among football fans on campus.

"I mean, I'm an FSU fan, so I like it. I think it's pretty cool that he's able to come back. It will help with the team next year," Kevin Hanney said.

"Whatever gets him to play again. I mean, that's all I want. I want to seeus win, so as long as James Wilder's on the field, that's all that matters," Chris Cheng said.

The associate athletic director tells us the coaches reinstated Wilder this afternoon. Wilder wasn't able to get back on the field today, though, practice was canceled because of the weather.

UPDATED 4.4.2012 5:45pm by Julie Montanaro

FSU's associate athletic director confirms James Wilder has been reinstated to the football team.

He could not suit up today, though, because football practice was canceled due to bad weather.

[UPDATE] April 4, 2012 - Noon by Julie Montanaro

A highly recruited running back could return to the FSU football team.James Wilder entered a plea in court today.

Wilder was arrested in February with a confrontation with a Leon County Sheriff's Deputy. He got suspended from the team and was looking at two felonies.

This morning, Wilder entered a plea in court to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. He'll do nine days on the sheriff's work camp and serve six months probation.

Wilder was accused of trying to stop a deputy from arresting his girlfriend.

[UPDATE] April 4, 2012 - 9am

FSU football player James Wilder has entered a plea that will allow him to return to the practice field and avoid a felony record.

Wilder plead no contest to a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence. He was sentenced to six months probation and nine days on the jail work camp.

UPDATED 3.21.2012 by Julie Montanaro

Court records show Bianca Camarda entered a no contest plea this week to criminal mischief charges.

She was ordered to serve a year on probation and 20 days in the sheriff's work camp.

Camarda was initially arrested back in December. She was accused of breaking into the apartment of FSU football player James Wilder and dousing his hats, shoes and clothes with bleach.

When deputies went to arrest her again in February for failing to show up for a court hearing, boyfriend James Wilder tried to intervene and was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

Charges against Wilder are still pending.

The judge ordered Camarda to stay away from him as a condition of her probation.

UPDATED 2.23.2012 by Julie Montanaro

An FSU football player is now facing felony charges for a confrontation at his apartment. That confrontation was with a sheriff's deputy.

James Wilder was arrested and so was his girlfriend.

An examination of court records today shows she was under court order to stay away from Wilder's home.

It happened at James Wilder's Chapel Drive apartment Wednesday afternoon. Deputies came looking for Wilder's girlfriend, Bianca Camarda, but wound up arresting both of them.

Deputy Donald Bramblett wrote in his arrest report that Wilder tried to stop him from arresting Camarda but he refused to move, pushed his arm away and continued to say "she's not going to jail."

"If they have goals to be like in the national league then why would you mess it up over something so small?" asked FSU student Omar Herrera.

Court records show Camarda should never have been at Wilder's apartment in the first place. A judge ordered her to stay away from apartment 419 after she was arrested in December for breaking into Wilder's apartment and dousing his caps and shoes with bleach.

Camarda didn't show up for a court hearing last week. That's what brought deputies to Wilder's door on Wednesday.

"It escalated quickly and I understand the officer was there by himself and this is a football player so maybe he felt a little threatened by the sheer size of him, but we're hoping we can resolve this and get him back on the team," said Wilder's attorney, Tim Jansen.

Jansen said Wilder was trying to explain to the deputy that the lawyer had given Camarda the wrong date. "He was trying to explain that to the deputy, however, the deputy has a job to do and he was doing his job."

According to Rob Wilson with FSU, the felony charges against Wilder triggered an automatic suspension from the FSU football team.

Both Wilder and Camarda are now out on bond.

Tallahassee, FL - Feb. 23, 2012 - Noon -

An FSU football player is arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer. Police say he was trying to stop an officer from arresting his friend.

On February 22, 2012, a Leon County Deputy responded to 415 Chapel Drive #419 in reference to arresting Bianca N. Camarda, 20, on an outstanding charge for failure to appear in court on a CriminalMischief charge.

The uniformed deputy made contact with James C. Wilder, 19. Wilder allowed deputies into the apartment in order to search for Camarda. Camarda was located hiding in a bathroom and taken into custody without incident. After placing Camarda in handcuffs, Deputy Donnie Bramblett began escorting her to his marked patrol car.Wilder then began telling the deputy that Camarda was not going to go to jail. Wilder stepped in between Deputy Bramblett and Camarda and then pushed him. The deputy was able to regain control of the situation by unholstering his taser and advising Wilder that he would be tased if he continued to interfere. Wilder then began yelling obscenities while continuing to say that Camarda was not going to jail.

As soon as Camarda was placed in the patrol car, Wilder was placed under arrest without further incident. Wilder and Camarda were taken to the Leon County Jail.

Tallahassee, FL --

On February 22, 2012, a Leon County Deputy responded to 415 Chapel Drive #419 in reference to arresting Bianca N. Camarda, 20, on an outstanding capias for failure to appear in court on a CriminalMischief charge. The uniformed Deputy made contact with James C. Wilder, 19. Wilder allowed deputies into the apartment in order to search for Camarda. Camarda was located hiding in a bathroom and taken into custody without incident. After placing Camarda in handcuffs, Deputy Donnie Bramblett began escorting her to his marked patrol car.

Wilder then began telling the deputy that Camarda was not going to go to jail. Wilder stepped in between Deputy Bramblett and Camarda and then pushed him. The deputy was able to regain control of the situation by unholstering his taser and advising Wilder that he would be tased if he continued to interfere. Wilder then began yelling obscenities while continuing to say that Camarda was not going tojail. As soon as Camarda was placed in the patrol car, Wilder was placed under arrest without further incident. Wilder and Camarda were taken to the Leon County Jail.

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